Scott & White Pictorial Food Diary

The pictorial food diary, developed by Scott & White, is a useful tool in teaching and promoting diabetes self-management. Designed for diabetic patients with literacy difficulties, the diary is a one-page pictorial self-management tool that can help patients and their families track intake and count carbohydrates.

The food diary allows a person to record one day's food intake.

1. Symbols across the top of the page identify columns for breakfast, lunch and evening meal. The small columns represent snacks between meals.
2. The row starting with the hand and drop of blood is to record your blood sugar.
3. The row starting with the syringe and pills is to record when you take your medicine.
4. The row with the person walking is to record your exercise.
5. The row that begins with a circled fist shows vegetables lower in carbohydrates. The small box in the upper corner of each section is for the nurse or dietitian to mark the number of servings to be selected for each meal and snack.
6. The row that starts with the circled cupped palm shows foods higher in carbohydrates.
7. The row that starts with the circled palm shows protein foods.
8. The row that starts with the circled thumb shows fats.
9. The hand symbol used at the beginning of each row shows serving size.

A pdf version of the diary can be downloaded here. Funding is provided by a grant from the American Medical Association Foundation.

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